STREET TREES AND THE SAFE SIDEWALKS LA SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM

Transcription

1 STREET TREES AND THE SAFE SIDEWALKS LA SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM Ron Lorenzen Assistant Director Bureau of Street Services APRIL 19, 2017 Department of Public Works

2 Assembled a Broad Coalition Team 2

3 Why are we here? Shared commitment to improve mobility while maintaining a sustainable Street Tree System. 3

4 Street tree and sidewalk conflict. NEARLY 11,000 MILES OF SIDEWALKS 700,000 STREET TREES 4000 MILES OF DAMAGED SIDEWALK ATTRIBUTABLE TO STREET TREES

5 Tree/Sidewalk History City of Los Angeles Sidewalks the responsibility of the adjacent property owner per the 1911 Act 1972 City receives Federal funding for a sidewalk repair program and amends Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Sec with the following: Exception: Preventive measures and repairs or reconstruction to curbs, driveways or sidewalks required as the result of tree root growth shall be repaired by the Board at no cost to the adjoining property owner Federal funding ends and City is now responsible for sidewalk damage due to tree conflict. 5

6 Tree/sidewalk History 1999 City initiated a Sidewalk Repair Program Pilot in one Council District Sidewalk Repair Program (SRP) expanded Citywide Due to the financial crisis, the Sidewalk Repair Program is discontinued. 6

7 2000 Sidewalk Repair Program Tree Objectives Retain healthy trees when possible by exercising options to tree removal. Phase large quantity tree removals in small project area. Replant when tree removal is necessary. Replant large species trees when possible. Plant in project vicinity. 7

8 2000 SRP Street Tree Impacts 0ver 10,000 street trees impacted. Thousands of trees root pruned. Hundreds of street trees removed. Hundreds of trees replanted. 8

9 2000 SRP Tree Lessons Learned Root pruning most viable tree removal option. Developed tree species list of root-prunable trees. Root pruning parameters. Approximately 50% of root pruned trees created offgrade sidewalk conditions within 3-7 years. Root pruning may lead to health decline in some species. Root pruning did not lead to structural failures. 9

10 2000 SRP Tree Lessons Learned Tree Removal Options Presenting Challenges Ramping Minimizing Grinding Meandering 10

11 Street Trees and the 2015 SRP VISION At the proposed close of the thirty-year SRP, the City of Los Angeles Street Tree System and Sidewalk System are mutually sustainable. 11

12 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Site Assessment 1. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form (BTRAF) 2. Department of Public Works (DPW) Tree and Sidewalk Assessment (TSA) Form (in development) 12

13 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Site Assessment Determines Potential public safety tree risk. Trees determined to be an immediate safety risk are removed. Tree is assessed to determine if tree is a potential candidate for tree preservation/retention. Trees in poor health/vigor are not considered for retention.

14 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Tree Removal When tree removal is required: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessment Notification of affected Council District office and Community Forest Advisory Committee. Board of Public Works (BPW) public hearing for three or more trees.

15 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Options to Tree Removal Tree Preservation Tree Retention

16 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach American Sweetgum Camphor Mulberry Magnolia Indian Laurel Fig Root Pruning

17 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Sidewalk Meandering

18 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Tree Well Enlargement

19 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Ramping

20 Street Tree/Sidewalk Conflict Approach Grinding

21 Recent Projects Before After 21

22 Recent Projects Before After 22

23 Recent Projects Before After 23

24 Tree Replacement Tracking Tree Replacement 2:1 Ratio Watering Commitment for 3 years Environmental Impact Report Removed Planted To Date Pending Total

25 Tree Replacement Tracking Tree Replacement Locating At original tree removal location. In neighborhood. In locations within Department of City Planning Areas. Low Canopy. High heat island. Low Air Quality. 25